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Beef Price-Fixing Suit Ends in $87.5 Million Settlement with Tyson and Cargill

By  |  October 8, 2025

Tyson Foods and Cargill have reached agreements totaling $87.5 million to settle a federal lawsuit accusing them of working together to raise beef prices by limiting supply, according to Reuters. The preliminary class-action settlements, filed Monday in a Minnesota federal court, still require judicial approval.

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    Under the proposed terms, Tyson Foods—the largest meat company in the United States—will contribute $55 million, while Minnesota-based Cargill will pay $32.5 million. Per Reuters, these settlements mark the first consumer resolutions in the broader price-fixing litigation that began in 2019.

    The plaintiffs’ attorneys estimate roughly 36 million consumers across 26 states and Washington, D.C., could qualify as part of the class. Those eligible include individuals who indirectly purchased beef products such as chuck, loin, and ribs from major retailers including Walmart and Costco between August 2014 and December 2019. The retailers themselves are not defendants in the case.

    According to Reuters, Tyson and Cargill have also agreed to cooperate with consumers as they continue pursuing claims against the two remaining defendants—JBS USA and National Beef Packing—both of which have denied any wrongdoing. Tyson and Cargill did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and attorneys for the consumers declined to provide statements on Monday.

    Read more: Tyson Foods to Pay $85 Million in Pork Price-Fixing Settlement

    Court documents show that lawyers for the plaintiffs have spent tens of thousands of hours on the case and intend to request up to 33.3% of the settlement amount, or about $29 million, in attorney’s fees. An expert for the plaintiffs estimated that total damages to the consumer class could reach approximately $1.9 billion.

    The settlement follows other legal actions involving major meat producers. Just last week, Tyson agreed to pay $85 million to resolve separate claims alleging it conspired with competitors to inflate pork prices. Earlier this year, JBS reached an $83.5 million settlement in a similar lawsuit brought by ranchers and other plaintiffs—though not consumers—while continuing to deny any liability.

    The case, titled In re Cattle and Beef Antitrust Litigation (U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, No. 0:22-md-03031-JRT-JFD), lists Shana Scarlett and Steve Berman of Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro and Brian Clark of Lockridge Grindal Nauen as lead attorneys for the plaintiffs. Cargill is represented by Jacob Bylund of Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath, while Tyson is represented by Susan Foster of Perkins Coie and John Terzaken of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.

    Source: Reuters